But it wasn't easy for these men to be God's mouthpiece because all too often the word God was placing in their heart was not a word that the people wanted to hear.

The Prophet Amos

Amos is often called the prophet of social justice because he railed against the excesses of the rich.

When Amos lived, the Kingdom of Israel had been divided in two kingdoms (the south was called Judah and the north Israel) and neither liked the other, not unlike the situation that existed in America during the Civil War. Amos was a most unlikely candidate to be called by God to speak his word.

He was a young shepherd lad and a migrant worker with very little education and absolutely no tact. ("In-your-face" types of people could easily choose Amos as their patron saint). He lived in the south and was sent by God to speak a thunderous word to the Yankees up north. Jeroboam was King in the northern Kingdom and Israel had reached the peak of its power and prosperity.

"When Amos, the lay prophet, and missionary, arrived in the north, there was pride (6:13-14), plenty and splendor in the land, elegance in the cities and might in the palaces. The wealthy adorned their summer and winter residences with costly ivory (3:15) and their couches with damask pillows (3:12) on which they lolled to enjoy sumptuous feasts. They planted pleasant vineyards and anointed themselves with precious, fragrant oils (6:4-6; 5:11). Their women, whom Amos called "fat cows of Bashan," drank wine from bowls (4:1).

Due to the sharp contrast between poor and rich and the fact that the wealthy seemed unconcerned for their less fortunate contemporaries, Amos was sent by God to decry the injustice of it all; "you do not even know how to do right" (3:10), he accused. Because of this, he said, the poor are afflicted, exploited and even sold into slavery (2:6-8; 5:11), and corrupt judges (5:12) do nothing to correct the situation.

Because he was bold enough to deliver such an unpopular message to such an unwelcoming people, Amos very quickly became persona non grata in Israel. As is reflected in today's first reading, Amaziah, the priest at one of the northern shrines, tried to banish him and silence his message. In the verses immediately preceding this text, the readers of Amos are told that the priest even accused the prophet of conspiracy against the king and sent a message to Jeroboam to that effect. Then he denounced Amos, telling him to go and prophesy in his own land of Judah. (Patricia Sanchez)

Amaziah was like a Monsignor in the local cathedral a parish with considerable wealth. His people would have resented this southern uncouth fellow yelling at them coming out of their cathedral. You can imagine Monsignor Amaziah in his fine robes rushing over to Amos and saying:

"Off with you visionary (crazy guy), flee to the south__. And don't ever again set your feet in Bethel (on these cathedral grounds). My people are not interested in your hell-fire and brimstone sermons."

The last thing Monsignor Amaziah needed was an unpolished upstart from the south making his decent people feel uncomfortable about their lifestyle.

It has been well said that the role of the prophet is to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." Amos saw a people with much luxury ignore the poor in their midst. Worse still, he saw how the rich became wealthy by mistreating the poor. God hated their worship services. God through Amos says:

"I hate and despise your feasts, I take no pleasure in your solemn festivals. I reject your sacrifices. Let me hear no more of your chanting_ _ _ But rather let justice flow like water and integrity like an unfailing stream." 5:21

The life of Amos, a very ordinary layman reminds us that God can call and use the most ordinary person to be his spokes person and to deliver his message of justice to the world. No one listened to Amos. After a few months he returned to his shepherding and sycamore job in the south and probably thought he was a absolute failure. But his message influenced later generations of Israelites and thousands of advocates of social justice ever since. Amos did not look for the ministry of prophecy, but neither did he shy away from it when called by God.

Hardly any of us want to listen to prophetic voices because they challenge our way of being and doing. In the fifties who, in America, wanted to hear the message of Dr. Martin Luther King? Who in the 70's in El Salvador wanted to hear the message of Archbishop Oscar Romero (his story is available on video, Romero)? Who in South Africa wanted to hear the message of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu? Who in this country in the 60's wanted to listen to the Berrigan brothers speak out against the Vietnam War?

Many times throughout our church year we listen to passages from the prophets and don't think a whole lot about what they have said. But the truth is if people like Jeremiah and Amos were around today, we would, most likely treat them with scorn. Much humility and courage is needed to listen to prophetic voices in our midst.

Are You Ready to be a Missionary?

In today's gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples going off on their first missionary journey to "travel light" and place their trust in him-a far cry from the way I and perhaps you pack for our travels.

Do you (or I) have the qualifications to be a missionary? Recently, I came across the following cute story about a pastor who had the task of evaluating a prospective missionary.

In order to evaluate a prospective missionary, a pastor performed the following test. At 3 a.m., the candidate was summoned to his office for a selective interview; there she waited until 8 a.m. when the examiner arrived. "Let us begin," said the examiner. "Please spell dog."

"D-O-G," the woman replied.

"Good. Now add two plus two." "Four," answered the applicant.

"Fine," said the examiner. "You have met the requirement. I'll recommend you to the board."

At the board meeting, the examiner spoke highly of the young woman: "She has all the qualifications of a good missionary. First, I tested her selflessness. I told her to appear for a 3 a.m. appointment; as requested, she left her warm home and came out in the cold without a word of complaint. Next, I tested her patience by causing her to wait five hours to see me. An ill-tempered person would have complained, demanded an explanation or gone home, rather than wait so long; she did none of these things. Then I tested her humility by asking questions that even a child could answer. She was not offended. I recommend her highly and without qualification."

Although this sort of "testing procedure" or evaluative process may appear rather simplistic and even a little naive, it does cut to the heart of the matter. The true mettle of an authentic missionary is measured in virtue and in motivation: Selflessness, patience, humility, simplicity and perseverance are key.

Other bits and pieces on Social Justice

Archbishop Tutu says:

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has his foot on the tail of a mouse and you say you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Global spending:

Global military expenditure US $800 billion

Global education expenditure US $ 80 billion

Global health expenditure US $ 21 billion

What would Jesus Say?

HERE COMES TROUBLE "Christians should be trouble makers, creators of uncertainty, agents of a dimension incompatible with society."-French social critic and theologian Jacques Ellul .

"BE NOT ANGRY that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be." (Saint Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ)